Condiment dispenser



` E. H. 'MANGER CONDIMENT DISPENSER Nov. 1-, 1941.

Filed May 15, 1949 INVENTOR. EeNEsT Ho MANEE.

Patenta& Nov. 1941 ;UNITED s' nss` PATE-NT ;OFFICE I I p u 12362368 CONDIMENT DISPENSER Ernest H. Manger,` Philadelphia, Pa; assignor to Bachmann Brothers, Inc., Philadelphia, Pa., a vcorporation of `Pennsylvania Application May. 1 5, 1940, Serial No. 335256 2 laims. (Cms-57) This invention has to do withcondiment dispensers such as are commonly employed` for 'the dispensing of salt and pepperat the eating table.

Ordinarily table salt will maintain a free running` condition, which is the most desirable for table dispensing, if it is` kept dry.` If 'the salt absorbs moisture from the `surrounding atmosphere 'it loses .its free running ability as it be comes damp and caky and cl'ogs up` the openings ;through whichit is dispensed. i The art of salt shakers has 'long recognize the desirability `of`k`eepingtab1e salt in a dry state, and to this end various shakers have ;been

proposed which purport to completely close the interier of the salt containing part from, the tat-t` mosphere during periods of non-use. However, the now known shakersin this field` present certain undesirable features which are intended to be obviatedby this invention.

. In carrying tout this.- objective the invention contemplates a salt shaker` having .one `end formed with a dispensing opening in which is mountedta valveimember. This v'alve member is detachablytheld in operative position,` and normally` controls the dispensing opening. However, the valve member maybe completely removed when it becomes` necessary to fill the interior of the shaker with a fresh supply of salt. Thus, another object is the (provision of a shaker having a dispensing and charging opening with i whichis asscciated a valve unit that acts as a stopper for said charging opening.

More in detail this invention has in View, as an` object, the provision of `a salt shaker of the character above noted which includes a salt containing member terminating at one end in a dispensing` opening. oEXtending inwardly into the container from the` edges of the dispensing opening isa skirt which terminates at its lower extremity1in an inturned flange. `The skirt is rendered of a slit Construction for a` short dis--` tance above the flan'ge to permit of `a required amount of expansion thereof. v

;A valve member is` carried at one end` of a' stern which is mounted within the skrt, and the lower endlof this stemfcarriesfmeans cooperating with the said fiange forv yieldably maintaining the valve member and. stern in efiectivetposi tion.` 74 f v .Another more detailed object of the invention is thenprovision of a salt shaker of the character above notedtin which thistmeans at the lower endof thetstem ,takes the form of an enlargementhaving;voppositely inclinecl `conical ;sur-

faces. Each of these conical `suraces is effective to spread the slit skirt upon engagement with the fiange; and thus prmit insertion` or i withdrawal of the valve carrying stem.

The invention hasparticularlyin mind the provision of a salt shaker having a structure whichrenders the same susceptible of manufacture by the molding of a suitable pla'stic such as` a phenol condensation product.- The above described structure at the dispensing `'end o'f` the shaker is particularly adapted .to such` manufacturing Operations, particularly whenthe bottom of the shaker is provided in the formof a separate piece which is incorporated into the structure after formation of the remainder of the "containen i Another object of the invention is the provision of a salt shaker' of the character above noted which includes a valve unit 'that cooper-` i ates with a dispensing opening, and which unit is removable 'as such from the opening to permit filling of the container. i e

In a salt shaker of the character above noted the valve unit is ordinarly freely movable. Thus should a salt shaker be accidently knocked over provision of a salt shaker including a dispensing t &opening with` which is associated' a valve unit` together with baffie means for preventing salt r from running out of 'said dispensing opening when the shaker is in a horizontal position.

In a saltlshaker made in accordance with the above noted `objectives this bame means will be provided bythe unslit portionlof theskirt.

It is notable that the slit' portion of the skirt serves two purposes. As has been pointed out, it provides for the `expansion and contraction of the skirt to 'permit positioning and removal of the Valve unit. shaker. is in an "inverted position the enlargementfon the stem engages the flange, and the opening therein is, therefore, closed by'this enlargement.` Were it not for the presence of the slits on the side of the skirt there would be no passage through whichthe salt could pass to ;get

to the dispensingopening; However; these slits vantages of ::thes invention will in part become ap Itis also noted that when the parent, and in part be hereinafter stated, as the description of the invention proceeds.

The invention, therefore, comprises a condiment dispenser in the form of a cylindrical container which terminates at one end in a rounded nose portion formed with a dispensing opening. Extending inwardly into the container from the edges of this dispensing opening is a cylindrical skirt the lower portion of which is slitted. EX- tending inwardly from the lower edge of this skirt is a ring-like fiange which is also slitted in accordance with the slitting of the lower portion of the skirt. A valve unit comprising a stem that carries at one end a valve member designed to effectively seal the dispensing opening is normally positioned within said skirt, the stem of the valve unit carrying at its lower edge an enlargement having oppositely inclined conical surfaces either of which is adapted to engage the said fiange and expand the slit portion of the skirt so as to permit positioning or removal of the valve unit. Under ordinary conditions of use the web engages the enlargement to limit movement of the valve member into open position, while the unslit portion of the skirt acts as a baflie for preventing the salt from running out of the shaker should the same be accidently knocked over into a horizontal position.

For a full and more complete understanding of the invention reference may be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a vertical section taken through a salt shaker made in accordance with the precepts of this invention,

Figure 2 is a detailed sectional showing taken on the plane of Figure 1, of the upper portion of the shaker, showing the valve unit in one stage of insertion,

Figure 3 is a similar detailed View of the upper end of the shaker in an inverted position showing the position of the valve as the salt is being dispensed, and

Figure 4 is a horizontal section looking from the top This view is taken about on the plane represented by the line 4-4 of Figure 1 with the valve unit removed.

Referring now to the drawing, wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts, attention is called to the fact that the present shaker has been designed with the particular thought in mind of manufacturing the same from a moldable plastic such as a phenol condensation product. It is recognized that there are many materials and compositions which fall within the broad class of plastics, and it is further noted that the container could probably be made from metal by suitable spinning Operations. One property whichthe material employed should have is that of elasticity to a required degree, as will be pointed out later.

Figure 1 shows a generally cylindrical container lil which terminates at one end in a. rounded nose H which is formed with a dispensing opening at !2. This dispensing opening [2 is preferably circular, and extending into the interior of the container m from the edges thereof is a skirt !3. Due to the ring-like formation of the opening |2 this skirt |3 is substantially cylindrical in formation. At its lower edge the skirt |3 carries an inwardly extending ring-like fiange !4 which defines an opening !5. It is noted that the lower portion of the skirt l3 is slit above the flange |4 a required distance, and this slitting is carried over into the web I'd, the

2,2e2,3ss

slits being identified by the reference character e.

'I'he above described slit construction is tied up with the elastic properties of the material employed in making the container o and skirt !3. As illustrated, these parts are preferably integral, and it is important that the skirt |3 be sufiiciently elastic to permit of the expansion of the slit portion thereof, with the subsequent return to normal position when the force of expansion is removed,

The lower end of the cylindrical container IO may be closed in any preferred manner, although the invention has particularly in mind the use of a separate bottom element such as shown at l' in Figure 1. The peripheral edges of the bottom l'l are received in a groove |8 formed in the lower edge of the cylindrical part ID, the latter being peened over as represented at !9, to permanently secure the bottom l'l in position.

A valve unit is referred to in its entirety by the reference character U, and is shown as consisting of a stem 20 which carries at its upper end a valve member 21. This valve member ZI is formed with a conical surface at 22 which is designed to engage the edges of the opening I2 to seal the latter. This valve member ZI will preferably be rounded in the manner illustrated so that its curvature blends in with that of the nose portion I i of the container; this for appearance efiects.

The valve member 2| is also preferably made of the same plastic material employed in the manufacture of the container m. I-Iowever, the stem 20 may be made from any appropriate material such as metal, and this stem 20 may have a reduced shank 23 which is fitted within a recess 24 formed in the valve member 2I.

At its lower end the stem 20 carries an enlargement 25 having oppositely inclined conical surfaces 26 and 21. At the meeting of the conical surfaces 26 and 21 the largest diametrical dimension of the enlargement 25 is defined, and this is somewhat in excess of the diameter of the opening 15 but less than the inner diameter of the skirt !3.

The mode of usage of the above described shaker may be briefiy outlined as follows. With the valve unit U removed a required amount of salt is charged into the container through the opening !2, The valve unit U is now positioned by inserting the enlargement 25 through the opening [2 into the skirt !3. Upon engagement of the conical surface 26 with the fiange I 4 the latter, together with the slit portion of the skrt !3, is expanded, permitting the enlargement 25 to pass the flange !4. After this passing is accomplished the web !4 will assume the normal position illustrated due to the inherent resilience of the material from which the skirt is made.

When a salt shaker rests in the upright position depicted in Figure 1; gravity will cause the conical surface 22 to engage the edge of the opening 32 and seal the interior of the container` [0 from the atmosphere. Thus the salt is kept in a dry state. When the salt is to be dispensed, as in table use, the shaker is inverted, whereupon the valve unit assumes the position shown in Figure 3. In this position the conical surface 22 is spaced from the edge of the opening l2, but this movement is limited by engagement of the enlargement 25 with the fiange I 4. In this position salt from the interior of the container l0 runs down through the slits !2, into the skirt l3, about the stem 20, and thence out in the Should the shaker be accidently knocked over into ahorizontal position the unslit portion of the skirt |3 acts as a bame which prevents salt from spilling out. p When it is desired to remove the valve unit for salt charging purposes it is merely necessary to v grasp the valve member at 22, and exert an upu ward pull thereon Upon engagement of the conical surface 21 with the fiange 14, the latter,

together with the slit portion of the skirt, spreads the edges of said dispensing opening inwardly into the interior of said container, the portion of said skirt adjacent its inner end being expansible, a valve unit assembled in said skirt, a valve member carried at the outer end of said unit and cooperating with said dispensing opening, and abutment means carried at the inner end of said unit cooperating with {the inner end of said skrt to limit movement of saidunit whereby movement of said valve member with respect to said dispensing opening is limited, said abutment means also being adapted to cooperate with said expansible portion of said skirt to expard the same to permit of 'inserticn orremoval' of said valve unit in or from said skirt.

2. A condiment dispenser of'the character dei scribed comprising a container carrying a dissufficiently to permit the enlargement 25 to pass p the flange M.

While a preferred specific embodiment of the invention is hereinbefore set forth it is to be clearly understood that the invention is not to be limited to the exact construction illustrated and i pensing and charging opening at 'one end, a cylindrical skirt extending from the periphery of said opening into said container and carrying resilient fingers adjacent to the inner end of said skirt, inwardly 'extending lugs carried by said fingers, an axially movable valve unit in said i skirt and carrying a dspensing and charging closure valve member at one end, and an enlargement carried'adjacent the other end of said valve i unit and provided with oppositely disposed cam surfaces forurging the separation of said lugs and resilient fingers during insertion and withdrawal of said valve unit from said container and cylindrical skirt.

ERNEST H. MANGER. 

